UPSC CSAT Mock Tests – Chapter 1: Using These Tests – CSAT Blueprint, Margin of Safety and Error Analysis (20 MCQs)

← Back

UPSC CSAT Mock Tests – Chapter 1: Using These Tests – CSAT Blueprint, Margin of Safety and Error Analysis (20 MCQs) – 20 questions, subject: CSAT Mock Tests. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

Get daily current affairs & exam alerts – follow us YouTube WhatsApp Channel Telegram Channel Facebook Page Instagram
Share with friends & study groups
Link to this page from your website / blog (HTML code)
1.  

Under Shortcut 3 of this chapter, a mock score of 90 leaves a margin above the qualifying line of about:

Correct Answer: B [24 marks]

Explanation:

90 minus the qualifying 66 marks leaves about 24 marks – 'aim for 66 plus 24'.

2.  

In the blueprint of every test in this book, basic numeracy carries:

Correct Answer: C [30 questions]

Explanation:

Table 1.3 gives basic numeracy 30 of the 80 questions, close to the recent average of 33.

3.  

According to this chapter, which feature of recent Paper II question papers is not fixed by the notice?

Correct Answer: D [The number of questions]

Explanation:

recent papers had 80 questions, but Section 1.1 notes that the notice does not fix the number.

4.  

According to the notice, calculators in objective-type papers such as Paper II are:

Correct Answer: A [not permitted]

Explanation:

the notice says candidates are not permitted to use calculators for objective type papers.

5.  

Each of the advanced tests (Tests 4–6) in this book has about how many hard items?

Correct Answer: D [20]

Explanation:

Section 1.3: Tests 4–6 have about 20 easy, 40 moderate and 20 hard items.

6.  

By the academy's count, the section with the most questions on average in 2019–2024 was:

Correct Answer: A [basic numeracy]

Explanation:

basic numeracy averaged about 33 a year.

7.  

Between 2019 and 2024, the number of comprehension questions a year (academy count) stayed between:

Correct Answer: C [25 and 30]

Explanation:

the counts ranged from 25 to 30.

8.  

How many questions does each test in this book have?

Correct Answer: B [80]

Explanation:

each test has 80 original questions.

9.  

In each test of this book, comprehension carries:

Correct Answer: C [26 questions in 15 passages]

Explanation:

26 questions in 15 passages: three sets of three, five of two and seven of one.

10.  

The answer key of each test in this book has:

Correct Answer: A [20 answers of each letter]

Explanation:

each key has 20 answers of each of the four letters, so the position of an answer gives no clue.

11.  

Using the academy's score bands, a mock score of 75 means:

Correct Answer: D [qualifying on a thin margin]

Explanation:

66 to 89 is the band of a thin margin.

12.  

A candidate has 40 right and 15 wrong answers in a CSAT mock. The score is:

Correct Answer: B [87.5]

Explanation:

40 × 2.5 = 100; 15 × 2.5 ÷ 3 = 12.5; 100 − 12.5 = 87.5.

13.  

In the six CSAT error types, answering from your own belief rather than from the passage is called:

Correct Answer: D [outside knowledge]

Explanation:

using outside knowledge instead of the passage is a separate error type.

14.  

"Redo before you read" helps a candidate to:

Correct Answer: D [tell a gap in method from a slip]

Explanation:

solving a wrong item again without a time limit shows whether the error was a gap or a slip.

15.  

By the academy's count, how many reasoning and mental ability questions did Paper II have in 2024?

Correct Answer: B [14]

Explanation:

Table 1.2: reasoning fell from 20 items in 2019 to 14 in 2024.

16.  

By Shortcut 5 of this chapter ('count words, not questions'), which passage gives the most marks for each minute of reading?

Correct Answer: C [A 150-word passage with three questions]

Explanation:

three questions on 150 words earn 7.5 marks with the least reading – the Shortcut 5 example.

17.  

According to Figure 1.3 of this chapter, the choice between taking comprehension first and taking numeracy first should be made on the basis of:

Correct Answer: C [your section log after Tests 1 and 2]

Explanation:

Figure 1.3: decide by your section log after Tests 1 and 2; keep the order with more marks and fewer errors.

18.  

According to this chapter, taking the comprehension section first suits candidates who are:

Correct Answer: A [slower with numbers]

Explanation:

Figure 1.3: comprehension first suits readers who are slower with numbers and gives steady marks early.

19.  

A candidate has 50 right and 12 wrong answers in a CSAT mock. The score is:

Correct Answer: C [115]

Explanation:

50 × 2.5 − 12 × (2.5 ÷ 3) = 125 − 10 = 115.

20.  

This chapter advises taking at least two of these tests in the afternoon, after a two-hour GS paper in the morning. The main reason is that:

Correct Answer: B [Paper II is usually held after Paper I, when the candidate is already tired]

Explanation:

Shanmugam Tips: Paper II usually follows Paper I, so practise reading and calculating when already tired.

➤ Six full-length CSAT tests with worked solutions, blueprints, answer keys and a qualifying-mark strategy – U27 · CSAT Mock Tests (UPSC book, ₹249): www.shanmugamiasacademy.in/study-materials/upsc-csat-mock-tests

📘 U27 · CSAT Mock Tests with Analysis – UPSC Civil Services (Prelims Paper II – CSAT)
Here you get the answer with a one-line explanation. 6 full-length CSAT tests · 480 original questions · worked solutions for every option · qualifying-mark strategy, answer keys, error analysis
Get the book – ₹249 ₹499 →
Score: 0 Answered: 0 / 0